Apparatus for processing punched cards and the like



Oct. 8, 1968 K. J. HECKER ET AL 3,404,882

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PUNCHED CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2l, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l [Irl 1;' Il

'I LIQ H INVENTOR Oct. 8, 1968 3,404,882

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PUNCHED CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed OC.. 2l, 1966 K. J. HECKER ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR) United States Patent O ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for processing punched cards or analogous carriers of information in which the lowermost carriers means may be automatically fed one by one by the latter into the inlet of a reader, and in which the automatic input means is tiltable about an axis between an active position in which the carrier discharge portion of the input means is aligned with the inlet of the reader and a second position in which the automatic input means and the stack of carriers thereon is moved away from the inlet so that carriers may be fed independently of said automatic input means, for instance by hand, into said inlet, without removing the stack of carriers from the automatic input means.

The present invention relates to apparatus for processing punched cards, punched paper tape and analogous carriers of information. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the construction and mounting of input equipment which feeds punched cards and like carriers of information to a reader.

In presently known apparatus for processing punched cards, the input equipment comprises a trough-shaped receptacle of rectangular cross-sectional outline. The inlet of the reader can receive cards directly from the bottom wall of the receptacle because the inlet opening is flush with the plane of the bottom wall. The mechanism which feeds and transfers cards from the receptacle includes components which are installed partly in the interior of and partly at a level below the receptacle. A hold-down device whose function is to press the stack of cards against the bottom wall normally comprises a plate of sheet metal received with some clearance in the interior of the receptacle.

A serious drawback of such conventional apparatus is that it is difficult, and often impossible, to feed cards or analogous carriers of information by hand or by means other than the automatic input equipment. This is due to thefact that the trough-shaped receptacle of such equipment is installed directly in front of the normally slitshaped inlet opening of the reader. Presently known proposals to facilitate other than automatic feed of cards into the reader include placing the input equipment at a greater distance from the inlet opening. However, this results in undesirable increase in space requirements. For example, such apparatus cannot be mounted on a normal ,of a stack of carriers arranged in an automatic input table because the reader and the input equipment will exv tend beyond the outlines of the top plate.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for processing punched lcards and like carriers of information wherein the reader canl receive such carriers from an automatic input equipment or from another source (for example, by hand) and wherein the input equipment is mounted in a novel way so that, when not in use, it cannot interfere with or impede manual introduction of carriers into the reader.

Another object of our invention is to provide an apparatus of the just outlined character wherein the cornbined length of the reader and input equipment, as considered in the direction of feed, need not exceed the combined length of such components in conventional apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel guide means for automatic input equipment which supplies punched cards or analogous carriers of information to a reader.

Briefly stated, one feature of our invention resides in the provision of apparatus for processing punched cards', punched tape or analogous carriers of information. The apparatus comprises a reader having an inlet for the carriers, automatic input means for supplying such carriers to the inlet and comprising-a carrier-discharging portion adjacent to the inlet and movable between an operative position of registry with the inlet and a second or inoperative position in which the input means affords access to the inlet for admission of carriers independently of the carrier-discharging portion, and guide means for guiding the carrier-discharging portion between such operative and inoperative positions, preferably in directions transversely of the direction of carrier feed. For example, the guide means may guide the entire input means for movement up and down between a raised (operative) and lower (inoperative) position. Since there is ample room below the input means, such construction of my apparatus results in an increase in transverse dimensions but does not take up more floor space.

The novel features which are considered as characteristie of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, with the input means shown in operative position;

FIG. 2 is a similar sectional view but showing the input means in inoperative position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a detail of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a similar view but showing certain parts omitted in FIG. 3 while omitting other parts shown in FIG. 3.

Referring iirst to FIGS. l and 2, there is shown an apparatus for processing punched cards. The apparatus cornprises a trough-shaped receptacle 1 of rectangular crosssectional outline which forms part of automatic input means and can accommodate a stack of punched cards 2 shown in FIG. 3. In the operative or raised position of the input means, the receptacle 1 extends to a level above the top surface of a table 3 on which theapparatus is mounted. The upper side of the receptacle 1 is open and the upper surface of its bottom wall 4 is slightly above the top surface of the table 3. This bottom wall 4 supports the lowermost card 2a of the stack and such card 2a can be fed on through the split-shaped inlet 6 of a reader 5. It will be seen that, in the operative or raised position of FIG. 1, the lowermost card 2a on the bottom wall 4 registers with the inlet 6.

The card-discharging portion of the receptacle 1 is movable between the operative position of FIG. 1 and the inoperative or lower position of FIG. 2 in which the inlet 6 is accessible for manual admission of cards 2. In the operative position of FIG. 1, the receptacle 1 obstructs or hinders manual admission of punched cards or tape.

FIGS. l and 2 further show a housing 7 which is mounted in a cutout of the table 3 and accommodates the major part of the receptacle 1 when the latter is moved to the inoperative position of FIG. 2. The means for advancing the cards 2 is mounted in the interior of the housing 7 at the underside of the bottom wall 4 and comprises anlelectric motor 8 having an output shaft 9 carrying a bevel gear 10 which meshesl with a bevel gear 11 on a friction wheel 12. A portion of the friction wheel 12 extends through a cutout 13 in the bottom wall 4 and engages the underside of the lowermost card 2a (see FIG. 3). The friction between the lowermost card 2a and the peripheral surface of the wheel 12 is sufficient to advance the lowermost card into the inlet 6 when the stack of cards 2 in the receptacle 1 is compressed by a hold-down device including a cover plate 14 which rests on the topmost card 2 and is biased by a pair of rollers 15 each provided at one end of a lever 16. Each lever 16 is biased by a spring 17 and is fixed at the other end to a pivot pin 18 turnably carried by the side walls 19 of the receptacle 1. The levers 16 extend substantially parallel to each other and the ends of the spring 17, not shown in the drawing may be wound about the pivot pin 18 and fixedly connected thereto. The pivot pin 18 also carries outside one of the side walls 19 a ratchet wheel 20 xed thereto which can be turned counterclockwise by a pawl 21 constituting the armature of an electromagnet 22 carried by the housing 7. The pawl .21 is biased upwardly by a helical spring 23 and will engage the ratchet wheel 20 so as to lift the rollers 15 when the electromagnet 22 is energized.l The means for selectively energizing the electromagnet 22 do not form part of the present invention and are therefore not shown in the drawing. An adjustable gate 24 at the discharge end of the receptacle 1 controls the height of an outlet through which the lowermost card 2a advances toward and through the inlet 6.

FIGS. 1 and 2 further show guide means for the receptacle 1. Such guide means comprises one or more brackets 27 affixed to the bottom wall 4 and each having an elongated slot 28 for a guide pin 29 affixed to the housing 7. The guide means include further a substantially U-shaped slot 34 provided in the front wall of the housing 7 and therefore shown in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 2. The slot 34 has a pair of substantially horizontal portions 34' connected by a downwardly and rearwardly extending portion 34". A pin 35 fixed to the receptacle 1 is slidably guided in slot 34. A helical spring 30 acting between the housing 7 and bracket 27 yieldably maintains the receptacle 1 in the position shown in FIG. 1 when pin 35 is in the upper horizontal portion 34 and in the position shown in FIG. 2 when the pin is in the lower horizontal portion of the slot 34. In order to be moved to the inoperative position of FIG. 2, the receptacle 1 is pushed to the right, as viewed in FIG. l, and then downwardly so that the bracket 27 slides along the pin 29 and the pin 35 slides along slot 34 to the lower portion 34 so that after release of the receptacle it will be locked in the tilted position shown in FIG. 2. At the same time, an arcuate handgrip member 31 of sheet metal moves to the position of FIG. 2 and its convex upper surface can guide manually admitted cards into the inlet 6 of the reader 5. The spring 30 which partly counteracts the weight of the receptacle 1 enables the operator to manipulate the receptacle by exertion of a small force during reverse movement of the receptacle. The handgrip member 31 can also serve as a means for lifting the rollers 1S from the cover plate 14 prior to introduction of a fresh supply of cards 2 into the receptacle 1. For this purpose a portion 31' of the handgrip member 31 by means of which the member 31 is turnably mounted on the pin 18 between the levers 16 carries a pin 36 laterally projecting therefrom to opposite sides and cooperating with noses 16 respectively projecting from the left ends, as viewed position of the electromagnet 22 (FIG. levers 16 rand rollers 15 are free to press on the stack v., 4 y: V I in FIG. 4, of the levers 16. The reader 5 has a small platform 32 which is located in front of the inlet 6 and serves as a stop for the handgrip member 31 so that the latter can properly guide manually admitted cards into the reader. When the receptacle 1 is raised back to the operative position of FIG. l; the platform 32 supports aprojection 33 which extends forwardlypof the gate 24 and maintains the outlet of the receptacle 1 in registry with the inlet 6. It is furtherE clear that the entire rec'epacle 1 can be`accommodated' in the housing 7 when the operator wishes to feed punched cards or punched tape by hand.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and areintended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus lfor processing punched cards or analogous carriers of information comprising, in combination, a reader having an inlet for receiving carriers of information; and automatic input means for feeding such carriers in one direction to said inlet, said input means having a carrier discharging portion adjacent said inlet and being tiltable about a tilting axis spaced from said inlet between an operative position in which said carrier-discharge sportion is aligned with said inlet so that carriers may be fed by said automatic input means through said inlet to said reader, and a second position tilted about said tiltin-g axis in which said carrier-discharge portion is displaced in direction transverse to said feeding direction from said inlet so that carriers may be fed into said inlet independently of said automatic input means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet is arranged to receive carriers of information in a predetermined plane and wherein said in-put means comprises a guide surface which is adjacent to said plane in the second position of said carrier-discharging portion so that carriers fed independently of said input means can be supplied along said surface.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, yfurther comprising resilient means arranged to compensate, at least in rpart, for the weight of said input means and to yieldably maintain the latter in either of the positions thereof.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said input means comprises a receptacle arranged to accommodate a stack of punched cards and having an outlet disposed between said inlet and the lowermost card of the stack in the operative position of said carrier-discharging portion, and means for advancing the lowermost cards seriatim from said receptacle into said reader.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for releasably locking the input means in said operative position.

6. An apparatus as dened in claim 1, wherein said inlet means is arranged to receive carriers of information in a predetermined plane and wherein said tilting axis is substantially parallel to said plane.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said automatic input means is downwardly tilted in said second position. v

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said input means comprises a receptacle adapted to accommodate a supply of carriers and hold-down means for such supply of carriers, said hold-down means comprising a handgrip member provided with a guide surface for facilitating manual admission of carriers into said inlet when the receptacle has been moved downwardly.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said input means comprises a receptacle arranged toA accommodate a stock of carriers of information, said receptacle being tiltaible about said tiltingl axis and ,having wall means supporting `the lowermost of the carriers in said stack, said wallmeanshaving a front edge facing said inlet and alignedwith the latter in saidoperative position of said input means, and meansfor advancing the lowermost of said carriers seriatim Ifrom said 'receptacle into said reader.

.10.,An apparatus as deined in claim 9, wherein said means for advancing the lowermost of said carriers comprises a friction wheelextending with a peripheral portion thereof through said wall means and,y frictionally engaging said lowermost carrier in said receptacle and means 'for driving said friction swheel.V

11. An apparatus as definedin claim 10, and including adjustable means for biasing said stack toward said wall means to increase, when necessary, the friction between said 'friction wheel and the lowerrnost of said carriers.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said biasing means comprises at least one roller, means mounting said roller movable between an active position engaging the uppermost carrier of said stack and an inactive position disengaged therefrom, means cooperating with said mounting means and tending to keep said roller in said active position, and means cooperating with said mounting means for selectively moving said roller from said active to said inactive position.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said biasing means comprise at least one roller, a lever carrying said roller at one end and being mounted on the other end tiltable about a second tilting axis between a first positionin which said roller engages the uppermost carrier of said stack and a second position disengaged therefrom, spring means cooperating with said lever and 'being biased so as to tend to maintain said lever in saidfirst position, a sprocket wheel fixed to said lever coaxial with said second tilting axis, and solenoid operated pawl means cooperating with said sprocket wheel to move, when actuated, said lever to said second position.

14. Apparatus for processing punched cards or analogous carriers of information, comprising, incombination, a reader having an inlet for receiving carriers of information; automatic input means for supplying carriers to said inlet, said input means having a carrier-discharging -portion movable between an operative position yof registry with said inlet and a second position displaced from said inlet to provide access to the latter for admission of carriers independently of said carrier-discharge portion; a table supporting said reader and said input means; and housing means in said table to receive a portion of said input means when said carrier discharge portion is moved to said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,499 6/ 1934 Brasseur 271-10 `2,155,895 4/1939 Gibson 271-10 2,726,860 12/ 1955 Luhn 271-61 X EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner. 

